Utah parenting influencer Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, have been sentenced to at least four years in prison each for aggravated child abuse charges. The ruling came nearly six months after their initial arrest.
Franke and Hildebrandt faced six counts of aggravated child abuse after Franke’s 12-year-old son, described as “emaciated,” escaped Hildebrandt’s home in Ivins on August 30th, seeking help from a neighbor. Upon investigation, authorities found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter also malnourished in Hildebrandt’s residence.
Both women pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse in December, with two counts dropped as part of their plea deals.
On Tuesday, they were each sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for each of the four child abuse counts, with their sentences to run consecutively, potentially totaling up to 30 years. The actual duration of their imprisonment will be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
Franke’s plea agreement included cooperation with the prosecution, while Hildebrandt faced a more severe judgment due to her role in the case. Judge John Walton emphasized Hildebrandt’s professional background as a licensed clinical mental health counselor and condemned her actions, stating that adults, especially those with specialized training, are expected to protect children.
The judge described the situation as “largely” of Hildebrandt’s making, highlighting her failure to uphold the responsibility to safeguard children. He criticized her approach as detached from reality and lacking in decency or common sense.
Child Abuse Case Unveils Disturbing Details
In December, Franke’s plea agreement revealed disturbing details of the abuse endured by her two youngest children in the three months leading up to the arrests of Franke and Hildebrandt. Prosecutors outlined instances where Franke submerged her son’s head underwater, suffocated him with her hands to cut off his oxygen, and kicked him while wearing boots. Additionally, Franke’s youngest daughter suffered deprivation of food and water, was
Hildebrandt’s plea agreement mirrored Franke’s, detailing serious physical injuries inflicted upon the children by Hildebrandt and another adult. It described the physical torture of Franke’s son through forced labor and the emotional distress experienced by both children due to deprivation of basic needs.
Furthermore, Hildebrandt’s agreement included instances of direct abuse by her, such as physically coercing Franke’s daughter to jump into a cactus multiple times.
Following Hildebrandt’s plea hearing, her defense attorney, Douglas Terry, stated that Hildebrandt chose to plead guilty to spare Franke’s children from testifying. Terry emphasized Hildebrandt’s acceptance of responsibility and her primary concern for the children’s physical and emotional recovery.
Troubling Background of Hildebrandt and Franke
Before their arrests, Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke collaborated on an online self-improvement program called ConneXions, operating from Ivins, where Hildebrandt resided.
Hildebrandt’s journey into counseling began with her acquisition of an associate clinical mental health counselor license in May 2003, progressing to a licensed clinical mental health counselor by July 2005.
In 2010, troubling reports surfaced when a teenager residing with Hildebrandt alleged being subjected to sleeping outdoors, lack of school enrollment, and feeling demonized. Despite these allegations, no charges were brought against Hildebrandt.
Amidst mounting accusations, Hildebrandt took a significant step by voluntarily surrendering her counseling license on September 19, following felony child abuse charges. This action effectively halted her practice pending case resolution and disciplinary proceedings.
In a parallel development, Ruby Franke’s personal life encountered turmoil when her husband, Kevin Franke, initiated divorce proceedings on November 29. Although details were kept private, legal documents underscored directives against disparaging remarks or influencing their children’s perceptions of either parent.
Before these legal entanglements, Ruby Franke gained prominence as a parenting advice vlogger through her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers,” launched in 2015. Garnering over 2 million subscribers, the channel showcased Franke’s family dynamics and parenting approaches. However, controversies emerged, notably involving punitive measures such as a child being relegated to sleeping on a beanbag for months as punishment.
The dissolution of “8 Passengers” in 2022 coincided with both marital discord and Franke’s involvement with ConneXions alongside Hildebrandt.
Despite Hildebrandt’s absence of documented disciplinary actions before her license surrender, a previous incident in 2012 led to an 18-month probationary period. Allegations surfaced regarding unauthorized discussions about a patient with leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Brigham Young University. This incident, though not reflected in public records due to Utah’s statute, points to a troubled professional history.
The unfolding saga underscores a complex web of personal and professional challenges, raising questions about accountability and ethical conduct within counseling and online influencer domains.
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